Optic array for three-dimensional multi-perspective low observable signature control

ABSTRACT

The invention described herein represents a significant improvement for the concealment of objects and people. Thousands of light receiving segmented pixels and sending segmented pixels are affixed to the surface of the object to be concealed. Each receiving segmented pixel receives colored light from the background of the object. Each receiving segmented pixel has a lens such that the light incident upon it is segmented to form focal points along a focal curve (or plane) according to the light&#39;s incident trajectory. In a first embodiment, this incident light is channeled by fiber optics to the side of the object which is opposite to each respective incident light segment. The light which was incident on a first side of the object traveling at a series of respective trajectories is thus redirected and exits on at least one second side of the object according to its original incident trajectory. In this manor, incident light is redirected as exiting light that mimics the incident light&#39;s trajectory, wavelength, color, and intensity such that an observer can “see through” the object to the object&#39;s background. In a second embodiment, this incident light is segmented according to trajectory, and detected electronically by photo diodes. It is then electronically reproduced on at least one second side of the object by arrayed LEDs. In this manor, incident light is reproduced as exiting light which mimics trajectory, wavelength, color, and intensity such that an observer can “see through” the object to the background. In both embodiments, this process is repeated many times, in segmented pixel arrays, such that an observer looking at the object from any perspective actually “sees the background” of the object corresponding to the observer&#39;s perspective. The object having thus been rendered “invisible” to the observer.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-In-Part of application Ser. No.09/757,053 filed Jan. 8, 2001 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND FIELD OF INVENTION

The concept of rendering objects invisible has long been contemplated inscience fiction. Works such as Star Trek and The Invisible Man includemeans to render objects or people invisible. The actual achievement ofmaking objects disappear however has heretofore been limited to foolingthe human eye with “magic” tricks and camouflage. The latter ofteninvolves coloring the surface of an object such as a military vehiclewith colors and patterns which make it blend in with its surrounding.

The process of collecting pictorial information in the form of twodimensional pixels and replaying it on monitors has been brought to avery fine art over the past one hundred years. Pryor cloaking devicesutilize two dimensional pixels presented on a two dimensional screen.The devices do a poor job of enabling an observer to “see through” thehidden object and are not adequately portable for field deployment.

More recently, three dimensional pictorial “bubbles” have been createdusing optics and computer software to enable users to “virtually travel”from within a virtual bubble. The user interface for these virtualbubbles are nearly always presented on a two dimensional screen, withthe user navigating to different views on the screen. When presented ina three dimensional user interface, the user is on the inside of thesebubbles. These bubbles are not intended for use as nor are they suitablefor cloaking an object.

The present invention creates a three dimensional virtual image bubbleon the surface of an actual three dimensional object. By contrast,observers are on the outside of this three dimensional bubble. Thisthree dimensional bubble renders the object invisible to observers whocan only “see through” the object and observe the object's background.The present invention can make military and police vehicles andoperatives invisible against their background from nearly any viewingperspective.

BACKGROUND DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR INVENTION

The concept of rendering objects invisible has long been contemplated inscience fiction. Works such as Star Trek and The Invisible Man includemeans to render objects or people invisible. Prior Art illustrates theactive camouflage approach used in U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,631. Thisapproach is also described in “JPL New Technology report NPO-20706”August 2000. It uses an image recording camera on the first side of anobject and a image display screen on the second (opposite) side of theobject. This approach is adequate to cloak an object from one knownobservation point but is inadequate to cloak an object from multipleobservation points simultaneously. In an effort to improve upon this,the prior art of U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,162 uses a curved image displayscreen to send an image of the cloaked object's background and multipleimage recording cameras to receive the background image. All of theprior art uses one or more cameras which record two dimensional pixelswhich are then displayed on screens which are themselves twodimensional. These prior art systems are inadequate to render objectsinvisible from multiple observation points. Moreover, they are toocumbersome for practical deployment in the field.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,631 Grippin, discloses a coherent fiber optic bundleas a means to transfer light from a first side of an object to a secondside of an object. The Grippin art is not able to transfer lightefficiently and coherently as can the present invention. Each Grippinpixel can transfer only one trajectory of light with fidelity andGrippin neither anticipates nor provides any means to enable lightincident upon a single lens to be emitted from a plurality of lenses asis required in order to transfer off axis light with fidelity.Conversely, the Grippin system does not anticipate nor provide any meansfor allowing light incident upon a plurality of lenses to be emittedfrom a single lens. Moreover Grippin provides no means to enable lightincident upon a single lens to be emitted from multiple sides of anobject according to its incident trajectory. One can easily show throughray tracing how these short comings render the Grippin system inadequatefor effectively transferring a coherent image from one side of an objectto another side of an object even if the designer knows the exactposition of an observer. Moreover the system is completely inadequatefor coherently camouflaging an object in an environment were multipleobservers can be located in multiple unknown positions because, as raytracing reveals, each observer would only receive perspective correctlight from a very small portion of the pixels and would receiveincoherent light from the vast majority of pixels or no light at allfrom the majority of pixels. The Grippin system and other systems beingonly two dimensional.

The process of collecting pictorial information in the form of twodimensional pixels and replaying it on monitors has been brought to avery fine art over the past one hundred years. More recently, threedimensional pictorial “bubbles” have been created using optics andcomputer software to enable users to “virtualy travel” from within avirtual bubble. The user interface for these virtual bubbles are nearlyalways presented on a two dimensional screen, with the user navigatingto different views on the screen. When presented in a three dimensionaluser interface, the user is on the inside of the bubble with the imageon the inside of the bubble's surface.

The present invention creates a three dimensional virtual image bubbleon the outside surface of an actual three dimensional object. Bycontrast, observers are on the outside of this three dimensional bubble.This three dimensional bubble renders the object within the bubbleinvisible to observers who can only “see through the object” and observethe object's background. The present invention can make military andpolice vehicles and operatives invisible against their background fromnearly any viewing perspective.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The invention described herein represents a significant improvement forthe concealment of objects and people. Thousands of directionallysegmented light receiving pixels and directionally segmented lightsending pixels are affixed to the surface of the object to be concealed.Each receiving pixel segment receives colored light from one point ofthe background of the object. Each receiving pixel segment is positionedsuch that the trajectory of the light striking it is known.

In a first, fiber optic embodiment, the light striking each receivingpixel segment is collected and channeled via fiber optic to acorresponding sending pixel segment. Said sending pixel segment'sposition corresponding to the known trajectory of the said lightstriking the receiving pixel surface. In this manner, light which wasreceived on one side of the object is then sent on the same trajectoryout a second side of the object. This process is repeated many timessuch that an observer looking at the object from nearly any perspectiveactually sees the background of the object corresponding to theobserver's perspective. The object having been rendered “invisible” tothe observer.

In a second, electronic embodiment, information describing the color andintensity of the light striking each receiving pixel segment (photodiode) is collected and sent to a corresponding sending pixel segment(LED). Said sending pixel segment's position corresponding to the knowntrajectory of the said light striking the receiving pixel surface. Lightof the same color and intensity which was received on one side of theobject is then sent on the same trajectory out a second side of theobject. This process is repeated many times such that an observerlooking at the object from nearly any perspective actually sees thebackground of the object corresponding to the observer's perspective.The object having been rendered “invisible” to the observer.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention areapparent. It is an object of the present invention to create a threedimensional virtual image bubble surrounding or on the surface ofobjects and people. Observers looking at this three dimensional bubblefrom any viewing perspective are only able to see the background of theobject through the bubble. This enables military vehicles and operativesto be more difficult to detect and may save lives in many instances.Likewise, police operatives operating within a bubble can be madedifficult to detect by criminal suspects. The apparatus is designed tobe rugged, reliable, and light weight.

The electronic embodiment can alternatively be used as a recording meansand a three dimensional display means. The present invention provides anovel means to record visual information and to playback visualinformation in a three dimensional manor which enables the viewer of therecording to see a different perspective of the recorded light as hemoves around the display surfaces while viewing the recorded image.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the enclosedfigures and specifications.

DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 prior art illustrates the shortcomings of prior art of U.S. Pat.No. 5,220,631 and of U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,162.

FIG. 2 prior art further illustrates the shortcomings of prior art.

FIG. 2 a prior art is a first observer's perspective of the FIG. 2objects.

FIG. 2 b prior art is a second observer's perspective of the FIG. 2objects.

FIG. 3 shows the novel effect of the present invention rendering anobject (asset) invisible from nearly any viewing perspective.

FIG. 4 is a side view of one segmented pixel of the fiber optic (first)embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side view of one segmented pixel of the electronic (second)embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates the one to one light receiving and sendingrelationship of a fiber optic pixel.

FIG. 7 illustrates the many trajectory one to one light receiving andsending relationship of a fiber optic pixel.

FIG. 8 illustrates the many trajectory one to one light receiving andsending relationship of a electronic pixel array.

FIG. 9 a shows a pixel mapping process where a first light trajectory ismapped from a pixel “M” segment to a pixel “N” segment.

FIG. 9 b shows the pixel mapping process of FIG. 9 a where a secondlight trajectory is mapped from a pixel “M” segment to a pixel “O”segment.

FIG. 10 illustrates that one pixel cell has segments that correspond topixel cell segments on multiple sides of the cloaked object.

FIG. 11 a Prior Art—Ray Trace of Grippin is a top view of two “lensconfigurations” according to Grippin.

FIG. 11 b Prior Art—Ray trade of Grippin is a top view of the two “lensconfigurations” according to Grippin transferring light from multiplebackground points.

FIG. 11 c Prior Art—Ray Trace of Grippin transferring light from asingle back ground point B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION INCLUDING OPERATION

FIG. 1 prior art, illustrates the shortcomings of prior art of U.S. Pat.No. 5,220,631 and of U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,162. The top half of FIG. 1illustrates the active camouflage approach used in U.S. Pat. No.5,220,631. This approach is also described in “JPL New Technology reportNPO-20706” August 2000. Asset 1 34 has a screen or image sender 37 onone side of it. An image receiver 35 on the opposite side of Asset 1captures an image of the background which is then presented on the imagesender. Background point X 32 is represented on the screen as X′ 36.Note that for an observer at point S 31 this scheme does present areasonable cloaking apparatus because background points line up with theobserver such as X compared with X′. Unfortunately, for observationpositions located anywhere other than S, the image sender presents animage that does not correspond with the background. An observer at pointT 33 for example can see Asset 1 and can also see back ground point Xand background representation point X′. The Asset is only cloaked from anarrow range of viewing positions. Additionally, when Asset 1 needs tobe repositioned, it would be very cumbersome to concurrently repositionthe image sender display screen Obviously this two dimensional displayscreen approach in the prior art has significant short-comings as fielddeployable active camouflage.

The bottom half of FIG. 1—Prior Art illustrates the art of U.S. Pat. No.5,307,162. Here a curved image sender display screen 47 together withmultiple image receiving cameras 43 are used to overcome theshortcomings of the above discussed flat screen approach. An observer atpoint U 39 does see a reasonable representation of the background behindAsset 2 44. The observer at point V 49 however actually sees tworepresentations of point Y 41 at Y′ 45 and Y″ 51. When consideringdeployment theaters where surroundings are distinctive such as buildingsin urban areas, especially where the enemy has familiarity with thelocations of background structures, such easily detected problems withthe existing active camouflage schemes are not acceptable. Additionally,when Asset 2 needs to be repositioned, it would be very cumbersome toconcurrently reposition the image sender display screen. Moreover, intoday's complex theater conditions it is often not possible topredetermine from which viewing perspective an enemy will be seeing ourasset, indeed the enemy may be on all sides of the asset. In essence,this is still a two dimensional representation presented on a curved twodimensional display screen.

FIG. 2 prior art further illustrates the shortcomings of prior artdescribed in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 depicts a very simple cloaking scenario,that of cloaking a Ship 63 against a Horizon 65. A deployed displayscreen 61 is deployed between two observers at points P 67 and Q 69. TheScreen duplicates the image of the Horizon behind the Ship. FIG. 2 aprior art is a first observer's (P) perspective of the FIG. 2 objects.This scheme works well from the P observation point, as depicted in FIG.2 a, P's View is that of an uninterrupted Horizon 65 a compared to thedisplay screen 61 a. FIG. 2 b prior art is a second observer's (Q)perspective of the FIG. 2 objects. Q can be either at lower elevation orat a greater distance than is P. In either case, Q's View as illustratedin FIG. 2 b, shows a significant distortion in the positioning of theHorizon 65 b compared to display screen 61 b. The FIG. 2 sequenceunderscores the problem with prior art attempts to cloak even againstquite simple backgrounds.

FIG. 3 shows an ideal cloaking system that is achievable by the presentart. The novel effect of the present invention is that of rendering anobject invisible from nearly any viewing perspective. The top section ofFIG. 3 illustrates what the present technology (referred to herein as 3DPixel Skin) can achieve. Background object E 71 can be observed at thecorrect light trajectory by an observer as he moves past the cloakedobject along an observer path 75. By receiving background light frompoint E at a large number of points on the asset 3 73, replicating thebackground point E at a large number of points located on the surface ofasset 3, the cloak accurately simulates how a background is perceived byany observer in any position and effectively renders the asset 3invisible to an observer even as the observer moves around relative tothe asset and in close proximity to the asset. Light reflected off ofobject E 71 is collected by light collectors on the asset whichseparates it according to its incident trajectory. A first trajectory 77is collected on one side of the asset, it is then channeled by fiberoptics to exit (or in an alternate embodiment electronically reproducedto exit) from a point on the asset corresponding to (directly in linewith) its original trajectory as exiting light 79. This process isrepeated many times such that light from object E 71 (and all otherbackground points in all directions) is collected on one side of theasset and then exits on the other side of the asset. Thus the backgroundpoints can be “seen through” the asset rendering the asset invisible. Aswill be further discussed later, the 3D pixel skin consists of preformedrigid panels that are affixed to the surface of the asset and connectedto one another such that each light receiving pixel segment (laterdefined) is communicating with a corresponding light sending pixelsegment (later defined) and wherein corresponding segments are along thesame light trajectories such as first trajectory 77 and exiting light79.

The bottom section of FIG. 3 further illustrates that the 3D Pixel SkinCloaked Asset 87 is invisible to any observer at any observation pointdue to light receipt and transmittance (or light simulation in theelectronic embodiment) from a vast number of trajectories. Observationpoints F 81 and G 89 are examples of two such observation points thatboth simultaneously see light trajectories and colors from allbackground objects with the correct light trajectories and orientations.A first light trajectory 85 is collected at the surface of 3D Pixel SkinCloaked Asset 87 said light is diverted (or recorded in the electronicembodiment) such that it exits on it original trajectory as exitinglight 83. Note that the observer can see all of the light trajectoriescoming from all of the background points as though the 3D Pixel SkinCloaked Asset 87 wasn't there. Simultaneously, G 89 also sees all of thebackground points as if the 3D Pixel Skin Cloaked Asset 87 wasn't there.For example, light 91 from a sample background point is received anddiverted (or electronically reproduced) as asset 4 exiting light 93 suchthat the G 89 observer can “see through” 3D Pixel Skin Cloaked Asset 87and observe light 91. As will be later described, collecting light frommany different trajectories at many different points on all sides of anasset and then diverting that light in a fiber optic embodiment (orreproducing it in an electronic embodiment) such that light exits theasset on identical trajectories, at identical intensities, and withidentical colors (essentially equivalent) to the light that is incidentupon the surface of the asset, renders the asset “invisible” from nearlyany observation point.

FIG. 4 is a cut-away side view of one segmented pixel of the fiber optic(first) embodiment. The pixel in FIG. 4 both receives light from andsends light to multiple directions simultaneously though the arrows forsimplicity show light going only into the pixel. A primary optic 103causes received light from different directions (trajectories) to formrespective focal points along a focal curve (or plain). Receivedtrajectory 107 represents light of one such trajectory (or from onebackground point). The Received trajectory 107 is focused by primaryoptic 103 and exits as focusing light 109 traveling toward a focal curve(or plane). The focal curve is divided into segments such as first focalcollecting segment 111, each focal segment receives light from adifferent origination trajectory or background point. Each of thesesegments feeds the light it collects into a respective fiber optic suchas first fiber optic relay 113. The fiber optic is welded along thefocal curve such that the focusing light 109 is injected efficientlyinto the first fiber optic relay 113. All of the other fibers (possiblyhundreds) are likewise welded such that the focal curve collectingapparatus is a rigid structure. This rigid structure as described lateris rigidly connected to the primary optic 103 such that the componentsshown in FIG. 4 are all rigidly connected together. Note that each pixelhas an array of fiber optics each of which collects light from a singlefocal point, wherein each focal point contains light from a commontrajectory (or origination point). Similarly a second light trajectory101 is focused by primary optic 103 to be injected into a second fiberoptic 117 which resides in a focal curve segment 115. Many such fibersreceive light from many such light trajectories. All the lighttrajectories having been divided into focal points for injection intothe respective fibers. It should be noted as is made clear later thatlight also simultaneously travels out of the fibers and primary optic103 in the exact opposite directions. (This can be visualized byreversing the directions of all of the arrows on the depicted light.)The segmented focal curve collector can be manufactured as a one piecebowl shaped transparent plastic structure to which fiber optics can beaffixed by a welding or gluing process.

FIG. 5 is a side view of one segmented pixel of the electronic (second)embodiment. FIG. 5 illustrates an electrooptic sender and receiver oflight from a range of trajectories. A second primary optic 123 causeslight from each respective trajectory (or background point) to form arespective focal point along a focal curve (or plane). Only two incomingtrajectories are shown but in practice many trajectories of light enterthe primary optic and form focal points along the focal curve (orplane). Positioned on the focal curve is a segmented array of photodiodes and LEDs. A first photodiode 127 being one photodiode whichcollects light from one focal point and a first LED 131 being one suchLED that sends light (not shown) from a given focal point to the primaryoptic. Wires such as receiving wire 129 carry the electronic signaldescribing received light to a CPU (not shown) and wires such as sendingwire 132 carry the energy from a CPU and driver circuit to power arespective LED to send light (not shown). The segmented electronic pixelreceives light from many trajectories (background points) and sendslight to many trajectories (to simulate light received from other pixelsas later described.) The focal curve (or plane) is manufacturedidentically to that of FIG. 4 except LED's such as first LED 131 andphoto diodes such as first photodiode 127 are embedded along the focalcurve to send and receive light respectively. All of the componentsdescribed in FIG. 5 are connected to form one rigid pixel cell whichitself is part of a large panel of similar pixel cells.

FIG. 6 illustrates the one to one light receiving and sendingrelationship of a fiber optic pixel segment. FIG. 6 illustrates somepixels similar to those of FIG. 4 (or alternately FIG. 5). Lighttraveling in a first trajectory 155 passes through a third primary optic151 where it is caused to form a focal point along a focal curve 153.Located on the focal curve is a fiber optic 157 which collects thefocused light and carries it to a mapping center 159. The map of wherethe first trajectory 155 light should be directed (such that it exits onthe same trajectory at which it was incident) has been pre-establishedin a mapping process as discussed later. The mapping center redirectsthe light to a corresponding second fiber 161. The corresponding secondfiber 161 fiber delivers the light to the focal curve of a correspondingpixel cell 163 from which the light diverges until it reaches acorresponding second primary lens 165 which sends the light on a desiredtrajectory 167. Note that the desired trajectory 167 trajectorycorresponds to (is the same as) the path that the first trajectory 155light would have traveled had it not encountered the cloaked asset. Anobserver therefore sees the first trajectory 155 light just as he wouldhave had the cloaked object not been there. In a rigid structure, lighttraveling to the third primary optic 151 pixel from the first trajectory155 relative trajectory, will always emerge from the correspondingsecond primary lens 165 pixel at the desired trajectory 167. All of thelight arrows can be reversed and in practice, light is always travelingin both directions. The same pixel combination also cooperates inreverse, with light entering the opposite trajectory at desiredtrajectory 167 being redirected to exit in the opposite direction atfirst trajectory 155. In a fixed map (rigid system), the fiber optic 157and corresponding second fiber 161 will always carry light of identicaltrajectories in both directions simultaneously. In practice a cloakedobject is covered by many such segmented pixel cells each dividing lightinto many distinct incident and exiting trajectories. This causes anobserver to “see through” the asset to the background behind the asset.It should be noted that sheets of segmented pixel skin consist of thefocal plane receiving apparatus 168, a rigid connecting structure 169,and a fourth primary optic 170. To the sheets are attached the hundredsor thousands of individual fibers (or in the alternate embodiment LEDsand photodiodes). These sheets are rigid and can be mounted on thesurface of any asset. Each sheet is plugged into either one another orinto a centralized mapping center where inter-pixel segmentcommunication is arrange such as mapping center 159.

FIG. 7 illustrates the many to one light receiving and sendingrelationship of a segmented fiber optic pixel (a pixel receives lightfrom many directions each of which is segmented and sent to a respectivesegment of many pixels). FIG. 7 illustrates some pixel cells operatingcooperatively with light from multiple trajectories. Light from a firsttrajectory 171, light from a second trajectory 173 and light from athird trajectory 175, each enter a primary optic. Each light trajectoryis caused to form respective focal points along a focal curve 177. Atthe focal curve, an array of fiber optics, each respectively collectslight from one original trajectory. A fiber optic bundle 179 carries thelight to a fiber optic mapping center 180 where the light is redirectedto corresponding fiber optic cables 181. The first trajectory 171 lightis directed out a first corresponding pixel at its original trajectory183. The second trajectory 173 light is directed out a secondcorresponding pixel at its original trajectory 185. The third trajectory175 light is directed out a third corresponding pixel at its originalthird trajectory 187. Thus light received from one pixel cell is dividedinto its origination trajectories (or background points) and directed tothe series of pixel cells that corresponds to each respectivetrajectory. If a single pixel cell has one hundred receiving segments,it will have relationships with one hundred corresponding sendingsegments each located in one of one hundred pixel cells. Again, thelight flows exactly in the reverse direction simultaneously.

FIG. 8 illustrates the many trajectories of light receiving and manytrajectories of light sending occurring concurrently in the electronic(second embodiment) pixel array. FIG. 8 illustrates a series of pixelcells operating cooperatively. In practice light is being received byeach pixel from a multitude of directions 191 and light is being sentfrom each pixel in a multitude of opposite directions 211. FIG. 8 showsthe LED and photodiode arrays within each pixel operating cooperativelyto receive light, send electric signals representing the light'sfrequencies and intensity, these signals are wired to an electronicmapping center 199 which amplifies the signals and sends correspondingpower to the respective LEDs that can produce light which will simulatethat received and send it at the same trajectory as received. Each pixelboth receives and sends light. One additional use can come from theelectro-optic embodiment (as opposed to the all fiber optic embodiment).Namely, since all of the information about the light coming into thecloaked asset is passed through a CPU in the electronic mapping center199, the information can be fed to a VR viewing system 201, a personinside of the cloaked asset, wearing a head mounted virtual reality (VR)unit can “see through” the walls of the cloaked asset. They can see aprecise three dimensional representation of their surroundings fromwithin the cloaked asset.

In practice, many thousands of such pixel cells, each containing tens offocal point receiving segments all operating collectively are requiredto achieve near invisibility from any observing perspective. It shouldbe underscored that each pixel receives light from a multitude ofdirections. If a pixel has one hundred focal point collectors, they willcooperate with one hundred other pixels which will send light in onehundred different trajectories. The same one hundred pixels will eachsend light from one respective trajectory to that same pixel cell. Thiscan be seen in the mapping illustrations FIGS. 9 a and 9 b. Further, thepixel cells are connected to one another to form a sturdy flat panel.The deployed panel is glued or other wise fastened to the surface of theobject which is to be cloaked. This is the case with the assault beachcraft of FIGS. 9 a and 9 b.

FIG. 9 a shows a pixel mapping process where a first light trajectory ismapped from a pixel “M” 227 segment to a pixel “N” 225 segment. FIG. 9 bshows the pixel mapping process of FIG. 9 a where a second lighttrajectory is mapped from a pixel “M” 227 a segment to a pixel “O” 231segment. FIGS. 9 a and 9 b illustrate how lasers can be used toconstruct a map of which pixel segments correspond with which pixelsegments. It is assumed that a navy beach assault craft 221 depicted hasbeen fitted with permanent 3D pixel skin. When mapping the 3D pixelskin, Laser 1 223 and Laser 2 229 are always sending beams that areexactly opposite. At the mapping center, an electronic means foridentifying which segment of which pixel cell is receiving laser lightis utilized. In the fiber optic embodiment, a means for detecting whichfibers are receiving the respective two laser lights is utilized. InFIG. 9 a, Laser 1 is registered by a segment of pixel cell N, Laser 2which is exactly opposite in trajectory of Laser 1 is registered in asegment of pixel cell M. These two respective segments are thereforemapped as a corresponding set of segments that will always communicatewith one another. (Their fiber optic cables can be welded together atthe mapping center, or alternately in the electrooptic embodiment, a CPUand memory can make note that they are a corresponding pair of pixelsegments.) In FIG. 9 b, Laser 2 strikes a second segment of pixel M 227a, while Laser 1 is registered by a segment of pixel cell “O” 231. Thesetwo segments are therefore mapped as a corresponding segment pair. Notethat if M has one hundred segments, it will communicate with one hundredsegments of one hundred different pixel cells. It is important to noteconceptually that the pixel segments that correspond to the M pixelsegments will be located on every surface of the Army beach assaultcraft (as is illustrated in FIG. 10). This is why an observer viewingfrom any perspective will see an accurate representation of the cloakedobject's background. Once a number of Pixel segments are mapped bylaser, the rest of the pixels can be mapped by logic in softwaredesigned to mathematically create the map. Alternately, the laserprocess can be used to generate the whole pixel map. In a rigidapplication, once the map is generated it is permanent. It can howeverperiodically be recalibrated to ensure its precision. In the fiber opticembodiment, each of the fibers of each respective pixel cell segment ispaired physically by splicing or welding with one corresponding fiber.In the electronic LED photodiode embodiment, each receiving pixelsegment is associated with one sending segment with this relationshipbeing stored in a computer memory.

FIG. 10 is an asset covered in segmented pixel skin. It illustrates thatone representative pixel cell has segments that correspond to pixel cellsegments on multiple sides of the cloaked object. FIG. 10 illustratesfive different trajectories of light entering one pixel cell which isone among many pixel cells on a mounted 3D Pixel Skin covered asset.Note that each of the five different trajectories emerges from adifferent surface. Each of the five exiting trajectories is the same asits respective entering trajectory. In practice, each pixel cell mayseparate light into tens of different relative trajectories some ofwhich emerge from every surface of the object. Light enters a pixel cellat a first trajectory 241 and exits on the same first trajectory at 241a Light enters the same pixel cell at a second trajectory 243 and exitsat that same second trajectory at 243 a Light enters the same pixel cellat a third trajectory at 245 and exits at that same third trajectory at245 a Light enters the same pixel cell at a fourth trajectory 247 andexits at the same fourth trajectory 247 a Light enters the same pixel ata fifth trajectory 249 and exits at that same fifth trajectory 249 a.Thus light received from one pixel cell on a first surface exits fromall other surfaces of the cloaked asset. In a perfect cloaking system,the one pixel on a first side of the cloaked object would have similarrelationships with every pixel on every other side of the cloaked asset.This causes the observer who is moving around the cloaked object to seeevery background point through every pixel on the object. In practicalapplication some averaging would occur such that the backgroundreproduction is not perfect.

FIG. 10 illustrates thousands of light receiving and sending segmentedpixels such as the art of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are affixed to the surfaceof the object to be concealed. Each receiving segmented pixel receivescolored light from the background of the object such as first trajectory241, second trajectory 243, third trajectory 245, fourth trajectory 247,and fifth trajectory 249. Each receiving segmented pixel has a lens suchthat the light incident upon it is segmented to form focal points alonga focal curve (or plane) such as first focal collecting segment 111 andfocal curve segment 115 of FIG. 4 and first photodiode 127 of FIG. 5according to the light's incident trajectory such as second lighttrajectory 101 and second light trajectory 107 of FIG. 4 and a firstsensed trajectory 130 of FIG. 5. In a first embodiment, this incidentlight is channeled by fiber optics such as first fiber optic relay 113and second fiber optic 117 to the side of the object which is oppositeto each respective incident light segment. The light which was incidenton a first side of the object traveling at a series of respectivetrajectories is thus redirected and exits on at least one second side ofthe object according to its original incident trajectory such as samefirst trajectory 241 a, same second trajectory 243 a, same thirdtrajectory 245 a, same fourth trajectory 247 a, and same fifthtrajectory 249 a In this manor, incident light is redirected as exitinglight that mimics the incident light's trajectory, wavelength, color,and intensity such that an observer can “see through” the object to theobject's background. In a second embodiment, this incident light issegmented according to trajectory, and detected electronically by photodiodes such as the first photodiode 127 of FIG. 5. It is thenelectronically reproduced on at least one second side of the object byarrayed LEDs such as same first trajectory 241 a, same second trajectory243 a, same third trajectory 245 a, same fourth trajectory 247 a, andsame fifth trajectory 249 a. In this manor, incident light is reproducedas exiting light which mimics trajectory, wavelength, color, andintensity such that an observer can “see through” the object to thebackground. In both embodiments, this process is repeated many times, insegmented pixel arrays, such that an observer looking at the object fromany perspective actually “sees the background” of the objectcorresponding to the observer's perspective. The object having thus beenrendered “invisible” to the observer due to its 3D light mimicking bymeans of incident light collection and redirection and/or sensing andreproduction.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

Thus the reader will see that the Multi-Perspective BackgroundSimulation Cloaking Process and Apparatus of this invention provides ahighly functional and reliable means for using well known technology toconceal the presence of an object (or asset). This is achieved opticallyin a first embodiment and electronically in a second embodiment.

While the above description describes many specifications, these shouldnot be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, butrather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof. Manyother variations are possible.

Lenses which enable wide angle light segmentation at the pixel level canbe designed in many configurations and in series using multipleelements, shapes and gradient indices. Light can be directed by a lensto form a series of focal points along a focal plane instead of a alonga focal curve. A fiber optic element can be replaced by a light pipewith internal reflection means that performs substantially equivalently.Photo diodes and LED's can be replaced by other light detecting andlight producing means respectively. The mapping means can consist of asimple plug which connects prefabricated (and pre-rapped) segmentedpixel array components designed to fit onto a particular asset.

The electronic embodiment segmented pixel receiving array (trajectoryspecific Photo diode array) can be used as input for a video recordingand storage means. (This is a novel camera application of the presentinvention.) The electronic embodiment segmented pixel sending array(trajectory specific LED array) can be used as an output means fordisplaying video images which enable multiple users in differentpositions to view different perspectives simulteanously on a singlevideo display device. Alternately, one viewer moving around relative tothe display will see different images as they would moving around in thereal world. (This is a novel video display application of the presentinvention.)

The fiber optic embodiment segmented pixel receiving array (trajectoryspecific fiber array) can be used as input for a video recording andstorage means. (This is a novel camera application of the presentinvention.) The fiber optic embodiment segmented pixel sending array(trajectory specific fiber array) can be used as an output means fordisplaying video images which enable multiple users in differentpositions to view different perspectives simulteanously on a singlevideo display device. Alternately, one viewer moving around relative tothe display will see different images as they would moving around in thereal world. (This is a novel video display application of the presentinvention.)

1. A multi-perspective camouflage system for reducing the observabilityof an animate or inanimate object comprising; a first optic positionedon a first side of the object to be camouflaged, a first electromagneticradiation emitter selected from the group consisting of; fiber optic,and electro-photonic emitter, a second electromagnetic radiation emitterselected from the group consisting of; fiber optic, and electro-photonicemitter, a second optic positioned on a second side of the object to becamouflaged, and a third optic positioned relative to the object on aside selected from the group consisting of; said second side, and athird side, whereby said first electromagnetic radiation emitterprovides a first electromagnetic radiation which passes through at leastone surface of said first optic to be observable from a first physicalobservation perspective and whereby said second electromagneticradiation emitter provides a second electromagnetic radiation whichpasses through at least one surface of said first optic to be observablefrom a second physical observation perspective and wherein said firstelectromagnetic radiation is not observable from said second physicalobservation perspective and wherein said first electromagnetic radiationmimics with respect to at least one attribute selected from the groupconsisting of; wavelength, color, intensity, and trajectory at least aportion of electromagnetic radiation which was incident upon said secondoptic and wherein said second electromagnetic radiation mimics withrespect to at least one attribute selected from the group consisting of;wavelength, color, intensity, and trajectory at least a portion ofelectromagnetic radiation which was incident upon said third optic. 2.The multi-perspective camouflage system for reducing the observabilityof an animate or inanimate object of claim 1 wherein said firstelectromagnetic radiation is representative of a first section of thebackground of said object and wherein said second electromagneticradiation is representative of a second section of the background ofsaid object.
 3. The multi-perspective camouflage system for reducing theobservability of an animate or inanimate object of claim 1 wherein atleast one surface of said first optic refracts at least some of saidfirst electromagnetic radiation passing therethrough.
 4. Themulti-perspective camouflage system for reducing the observability of ananimate or inanimate object of claim 1 wherein said first optic has afirst surface and a second surface and said first electromagneticradiation passes through said first surface and then through said secondsurface and said first electromagnetic radiation emitter also serves asan electromagnetic radiation receiver either intermittently orconcurrently receiving electromagnetic radiation after the receivedelectromagnetic radiation has passed in succession through said secondsurface of said optic and then passed through said first surface of saidoptic.
 5. The multi-perspective camouflage system for reducing theobservability of an animate or inanimate object of claim 1 whereby saidfirst electromagnetic radiation emitter and said second electromagneticradiation emitter are positioned among a plurality of emitters which aretogether positioned in a convex array so as to each efficiently emitelectromagnetic radiation through said first optic and into respectiveranges of background areas surrounding said object.
 6. Themulti-perspective camouflage system for reducing the observability of ananimate or inanimate object of claim 1 wherein said first optic has afirst surface and a second surface and said first electromagneticradiation passes through said first surface and then through said secondsurface and wherein at least one electromagnetic radiation receivingelement selected from the group consisting of; fiber optic, and photonsensor is provided which receives at lease some electromagneticradiation after it passes successively through said second surface andthen through said first surface.
 7. The multi-perspective camouflagesystem for reducing the observability of an animate or inanimate objectof claim 6 further comprising a plurality of electromagnetic radiationreceivers each receiving at lease some electromagnetic radiation afterit passes successively through said second surface and then through saidfirst surface.
 8. The multi-perspective camouflage system for reducingthe observability of an animate or inanimate object of claim 7 whereinat least some of said electromagnetic radiation receivers are positionedin a convex array.
 9. The multi-perspective camouflage system forreducing the observability of an animate or inanimate object of claim 1whereby said first electromagnetic radiation mimics a section of abackground of said object in at least one aspect selected from the groupconsisting of; wavelength, intensity, and trajectory.
 10. Themulti-perspective camouflage system for reducing the observability of ananimate or inanimate object of claim 1 further providing a plurality ofoptics positioned in close proximity to said first optic each optichaving at least two electromagnetic radiation streams passingtherethrough whereby the combination of said plurality of optics andstreams produces a plurality of views whereby a sensor of said pluralityof optics in a first physical position senses a first collection ofcombinations of electromagnetic radiation representative of a firstsegment of mimicked background and a sensor of said plurality of opticsin a second physical position senses a second collection of combinationsof electromagnetic radiation representative of a second segment ofmimicked background.
 11. A method for reducing the observability of ananimate or inanimate object comprising the steps of; providing a firstoptic on a first side of said object, providing a second optic on asecond side of said object, providing a third optic on a side of theobject selected from the group consisting of; said second side, and athird side, providing a first combination of electromagnetic radiation,providing a second combination of electromagnetic radiation, wherebysaid first combination of electromagnetic radiation mimics with respectto at least one attribute selected from the group consisting of;wavelength, color, intensity, and trajectory, the electromagnetic energywhich was incident upon said second optic and said first combination ofelectromagnetic radiation passes through at least one surface of saidfirst optic so as to be observable from a first physical observationperspective and whereby said second combination of electromagneticradiation mimics with respect to at least one attribute selected fromthe group consisting of; wavelength, color, intensity, and trajectory,the electromagnetic energy which was incident upon said third optic andsaid second combination of electromagnetic radiation passes through atleast one surface of said first optic so as to be observable from asecond physical observation perspective, and wherein said firstcombination of electromagnetic radiation is not observable from saidsecond physical observation perspective.
 12. The method for reducing theobservability of an animate or inanimate object of claim 11 wherein saidfirst combination of electromagnetic radiation is representative of afirst section of the background of said object and wherein said secondcombination of electromagnetic radiation is representative of a secondsection of the background of said object.
 13. The method for reducingthe observability of an animate or inanimate object of claim 11 whereinat least a portion of said first electromagnetic radiation combinationis emitted by at least one electromagnetic radiation emitter selectedfrom the group consisting of; fiber optic, and electro-photonic emitter.14. The method for reducing the observability of an animate or inanimateobject of claim 13 wherein said emitter also acts as an electromagneticradiation receiving element either intermittently or concurrentlyreceiving electromagnetic radiation which passes through said firstoptic in the opposite direction of said first combination ofelectromagnetic radiation.
 15. The method for reducing the observabilityof an animate or inanimate object of claim 11 further providing aplurality of electromagnetic radiation emitters which emitelectromagnetic radiation at least some of which passes through saidfirst optic.
 16. The method for reducing the observability of an animateor inanimate object of claim 15 whereby at least some of saidelectromagnetic emitters are positioned in a convex array.
 17. Themethod for reducing the observability of an animate or inanimate objectof claim 11 wherein said first physical perspective is on a first sideof said first optic and further providing on a second side of said firstoptic at least one electromagnetic radiation receiver selected from thegroup consisting of; fiber optic, and photon sensor.
 18. A The methodfor reducing the observability of an animate or inanimate object ofclaim 13 wherein said electromagnetic radiation emitter also acts as anelectromagnetic radiation receiver either intermittently or concurrentlyreceiving electromagnetic radiation which passes through at least onesurface of said first optic.
 19. The method for reducing theobservability of an animate or inanimate object of claim 11 wherein saidfirst combination of electromagnetic radiation mimics a section of abackground of said object in at least one aspect selected from the groupconsisting of; wavelength, intensity, and trajectory.
 20. The method forreducing the observability of an animate or inanimate object of claim 11further providing a plurality of optics each having at least twoelectromagnetic radiation streams passing therethrough whereby thecombination of said plurality of optics produces a plurality of viewswhereby a sensor of said plurality of optics in a first physicalposition senses a first collection of combinations of electromagneticradiation and a sensor of said plurality of optics in a second physicalposition senses a second collection of combinations of electromagneticradiation.